Espresso Equipment Reviews

The espresso machines are not a new concept on the market. They have been around for more than a century. Angelo Moriondo invented the first espresso machine in 1884 in Turin – Italy. The famous La Pavoni improved the design in 1901 and patented it. It took the espresso machine almost 100 years to cross the ocean into America, and become a regular in people’s homes. Espresso is not everybody’s favorite, but it slowly becomes more and more popular, especially as a key component in lattes and cappuccinos.

How to Choose an Espresso Machine

You need an espresso machine for your home. How to choose one? The price range is very wide and you can find machines from under 100$up to over 2000$. All the espresso machines use the same concept: They push force hot water through compacted coffee grounds. There are different ways to accomplish that, and depending of the technology used these machines can be very costly or very inexpensive.

Technology

We can classify the espresso machines in 4 classes by the technology used:

Electric Pump Driven Espresso Machines
Lever/Piston Espresso Machines
Steam Powered Espresso Machines
Moka Pots

Manual vs Automatic

We can also classify espresso machines by the amount of automation included into a brewer. We can distinguish here:

super-automatic espresso machines
semiautomatic and
manual espresso machines.

Browse through the articles below to find the perfect fit for your kitchen and lifestyle. If I were to recommend you a machine, I would point you the Breville Oracle. I know it’s not for everybody’s budget, but take a look at the article. This way you have a starting point.

What Is a Manual Espresso Machine

June 30, 2024December 26, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

la pavoni lever operated manual espresso machine

Manual espresso machines, often underrated, offer benefits like portability and control over the brewing process. The lever-operated machines, the precursor to semi-automatics, require skill but provide control over pressure. Portable manual machines, like hand pump espresso makers, cater to on-the-go enthusiasts. Hobbyist machines, like lever-operated ones, demand dedication but deliver exceptional shots.

Gaggia Babila Review – Super Automatic Espresso Machine

July 2, 2024November 16, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

I’ve spent a ton of time behind the counter at coffee shops, slinging espressos and getting that perfect foam on lattes. It’s pretty cool, but let’s be real—not everyone’s got the time to geek out over pulling the perfect shot with a semi-auto machine. That’s where this bad boy, the Gaggia Babila, comes in. It’s … Read more

Jura X8 Review

July 2, 2024October 14, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

As someone who’s spent years behind the counter of coffee shops, I’ve had my hands on all kinds of espresso machines. While I have a soft spot for semi-automatics, I get it—not everyone has the time to make espresso a full-blown hobby. That’s where super-automatic machines like the Jura X8 come into play. They offer … Read more

Mantis Espresso WDT Tool Review

July 26, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

As an espresso geek, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make the perfect cup of coffee. The WDT tools I owned were okay, but I never owned one to get me excited. I know… It’s a raking tool, and you only use it for a few seconds a day. Well, I like beautiful … Read more

Bottomless Portafilter – Why Do You Need One and Where To Buy It?

June 30, 2024July 4, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Pulling an espresso shot with a bottomless portafilter

The pursuit of the perfect espresso shot is a non stop race. Professionals and enthusiasts alike try to improve the extraction down to the finest details. No wonder there are so many tools and accessories for espresso brewing, espresso lovers are truly passionate. One of these espresso tools is the bottomless portafilter. In this page … Read more

The Best WDT Tool on the Market

April 16, 2024March 20, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

distributing coffee grounds with fusedline wdt

If you are looking to improve your espresso shot and get consistent results every time, you need a WDT tool. It’s not even a debate, there is concrete evidence that the Weiss Distribution Technique slightly improve the overall quality of your shots, but more importantly, it brings consistency from shot to shot. You might have the … Read more

The Best Coffee Canisters for Coffee Storage

June 30, 2024March 17, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Storing coffee properly is one of the best things you can do to improve the taste of your espresso, or coffee. There is nothing worse than a flat shot of espresso, especially when you paid a decent amount to get great quality beans. So to pay for that single origin, and to end up with … Read more

The Best Home Cappuccino Maker – How to Choose a Cappuccino Machine

June 30, 2024January 2, 2023 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Learn how to choose your home cappuccino maker. We review the best home cappuccino machines, De’Longhi, Mr. Coffee, Nespresso and Breville from all price ranges. I enjoy from time to time a frothy cappuccino, even though my daily habitual coffee is a neat espresso with a tiny bit of sugar. I prepare my cappuccino using … Read more

Espresso Knock Box – The Best and the Cheapest

June 30, 2024December 3, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

The espresso knock box is one of those devices that you never miss if you haven’t used it before, but once you get used to it you can’t live without. OK, it’s a trivial plastic box, you might say, what’s the fuss about it. Yeah, you are right, a cheap plastic bin to dump your … Read more

Delonghi EC155 Espresso Machine Review – The Cheapest Great Espresso Machine

June 30, 2024November 23, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Whenever home brewed espresso is mentioned, the De’Longhi espresso machines are normally what spring to mind. De’Longhi is one of the most popular domestic espresso manufacturers on the market, and for good reason. They provide user friendly machines that produce consistent coffee. The Delonghi espresso machine EC155 is a perfect example. In this review you … Read more

Delonghi EC9335 La Specialista – Espresso Machine Review

June 30, 2024November 21, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

delonghi la specialista espresso machine review

DeLonghi La Specialista is relatively recent on the the market. The resemblance with the Breville Barista Express, stirred up some heated discussions. Some felt that the uncanny resemblance was blatant, some others thought that it’s great thing to have some serious competition on that niche. I will discuss more about this in a moment. I … Read more

Semi Automatic Espresso Machines

June 30, 2024October 18, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Faema E61 Legend semi-automatic espresso machine

One of the most sold types of espresso machines is the semiautomatic espresso machine. This is the perfect choice for espresso enthusiasts who aim to learn and experiment with coffee – it allows them to play with different recipes to create their favorite popular espresso drinks. There is also the inexpensive semiautomatic, which is the … Read more

Rancilio Silvia vs Gaggia Classic Pro – A Classic Review Comparison

June 30, 2024October 3, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

If you are looking for a mid-range semi-automatic espresso machine, for your morning coffee fix, there are a lot of options. However, the Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia are a lot of times compared. There are other machines within the same price range, however, these two coffee machines are the best rated by customers. This … Read more

Rancilio Silvia Pro X Dual Boiler Review

June 30, 2024September 24, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Rancilio Silvia Pro X is the dream of any home barista that aims for perfection. It is rather a prosumer espresso machine, and the price tag on the unit makes it accessible for those with a generous budget. Silvia Pro X is an upgrade of the Rancilio’s domestic espresso machine Silvia, so if you know … Read more

Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso Machine Review

June 30, 2024September 17, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

We are reviewing her the espresso machine from Mr. Coffee – the Cafe Barista ECMP1000.

We all like affordable stuff – but unfortunately, the cheap stuff also come at a great price: their quality. At least, that’s what happens 80% of the time. There are some cases when you can actually get high quality for a low price.

Granted, it’s likely that with low-budget espresso makers, you won’t get the quality brought by the high-end ones. Still, some can actually bring you close enough to the result so that you won’t even need a professional espresso maker.

Let’s see if the Café Barista by Mr. Coffee is a suitable choice for a budget espresso machine.

Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine Review

February 5, 2024September 12, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

The Breville BES870XL Barista Express espresso machine is one of the most impressive devices in the semiautomatic class. With an overwhelming feature set, with a modern look, and a great reliability, the BES870XL is a great choice for any serious espresso enthusiast If you are on the market for a new semi automatic espresso machine, … Read more

Espresso Machine Buying Guide – How to Buy an Espresso Machine for Home

June 30, 2024August 31, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

When you are buying your first espresso machine, you are faced with a big problem: choice. There are so many choices, that even if it’s your second espresso machine, it could prove a difficult task.

There are so many types of espresso machines, and there is a lot of competition on the market nowadays, that sometimes it’s really difficult to choose, when you don’t have all of the information. This is why we put together this espresso machine buying guide.

Even if you don’t want to purchase soon, this page will show you what the differences between all the espresso machines are, and what importance have all the features for the barista.

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Review

June 30, 2024August 19, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Rancilio Silvia is one of those espresso machines that stirs up heated discussions. The machine is a collection of high-quality components that you only see in more expensive machines, yet some home baristas are reluctant to buy it. Our reviews aim to inform you and make you confident in your coffee machine purchase. We want you to make the right decision with the help of our articles and our Espresso Machine buying Guide.

This review will show you what makes the Silvia special, and what are the little annoyances that home baristas wish Rancilio would fix.

Rancilio HSD Silvia, targets the home brewing sector, the espresso enthusiasts that love to tweak their espresso to perfection.

DeLonghi Esam-3300 Magnifica Review

June 30, 2024August 14, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is a super-automatic espresso machine, that is affordable, reliable, and easy to work with. Any DeLonghi Magnifica will turn you into a home barista without the skills and knowledge you need if you buy a semiautomatic. This Delonghi Magnifica might not have the bells and whistles of the more expensive machines, … Read more

Breville BES980XL Oracle – Espresso Machine Review

June 30, 2024July 3, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

The Breville BES980XL Oracle is one of the best espresso machines in its class. The price is fair for the countless features and options to tweak your shot.

Nespresso Vs Espresso vs Illy IperEspresso

June 30, 2024May 6, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

large realistic size of nespresso vs espresso final

If you are looking to get the best shot of espresso, you probably want to compare the most popular options on the market: traditional espresso vs Nespresso. Even the most passionate Nespresso critics have tasted it, at least to satisfy the curiosity. Let me introduce another competitor in your comparison, Illy IperEspresso. Why talk about … Read more

Best Cheap Espresso Machines

June 30, 2024April 29, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

For a coffee lover on a budget, buying an espresso machine might be challenging. As a beginner barista, you have limited knowledge in the field. How do you choose the best cheap espresso machine? What are the criteria that separate a good espresso maker from a bad one? We will try to familiarize you with … Read more

Best Cheap PID Espresso Machines

July 2, 2024March 6, 2022 by Dorian Bodnariuc

Lelit PL41 TEM espresso machine with PID

So you decided to step up your espresso game and buy a PID espresso machine. However, when you look at the prices they don’t really match your budget. This is a review of the best cheap espresso machines with a PID. The list include machines from Breville, Ascaso, Lelit, and Quick Mill. Learn what are … Read more

Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine Review

June 30, 2024January 12, 2020 by Dorian Bodnariuc

When it comes to espresso machines, it’s fairly difficult to pick something if you don’t have any brewing experience. Most semi-automated espresso machines need personal adjustments, which makes it difficult if you don’t have the knowledge.

Getting The Best Espresso Machine

June 30, 2024January 11, 2020 by Dorian Bodnariuc

A traditional cup of coffee is the dark liquid we are all used to, milder and without any extra. An espresso, on the other hand, is more concentrated, aromatic, and with an extra layer of foam covering the top. If you want to buy your own espresso machine to create countless espresso drinks and become a home barista, this page has all you need.